A Winter Awakening (8 page)

Ellie stood at the window, taking in the glowing sandsof the desert. As it stretched out from the city, the sands seemed to become darker and richer in color.  She tried to recall what Mr. Bennett had listed in the will.

FitLife Gyms? Ellie was familiar with these. In fact, there was one in Logan. It was the only gym there, and it seemed popular. 

Silver Towers? That was this building. She looked around the penthouse. It was all hers. And Mr. Bennett mentioned some other resort chain too, didn't he? What was that one?
But, what was that Mr. Bennett said about selling everything? 

The idea of selling was hard for Ellie to picture. These businesses were her uncle's legacy. His life's work was wrapped up in these businesses. If they don't stay in the family, what will become of his memory? Wouldn't it honor him more if I kept them?

Ellie smiled at this thought. It would be ironic, wouldn't it? Her father had disowned her for choosing to be a housewife. Uncle Emery had come to her defense, and taken her under his wing. Now here she was, four years later considering keeping her uncle's businesses.

Ellie looked down at her clothing, and let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She noticed the traces of strawberry juice in her cleavage.

Shit. I will not show up to this board meeting looking frumpy.
She went to her suitcase, but quickly realized that she had nothing suitable for the occasion.

Shit. Shit. Shit.
She located the remote next to her bed and flipped it on.

"Mr. Uh."
I don't even know his name.
"Mr. Chuckles-at-me. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Mrs. Sanderson,” His voice came through with a trace of amusement.

"I need. Well, I've got this meeting, and I..." Ellie stopped. She wasn't even sure what she was trying to ask for.

"I will be up momentarily." And he clicked off.

Moments later, the elevator opened and Mr. Man-in-a-suit entered.

"I am so sorry, I… well everything is such a blur and I… uhh,” Ellie stammered.  “I don’t seem to recall your name.”

"I am Henry, ma'am, and I've brought you some assistance."  He turned and two women followed him out of the elevator, along with a rack of clothing. Very. Expensive. Looking. Clothing. 

Ellie turned back to Henry with a gasp, "How did you know?"

With a twinkle in his eye, he gave her a small bow, and asked if there would be anything else. Before she could snap her mouth closed, the two women took charge of preparing her for her meeting. One looked over her figure, ordered her to go shower, then began thumbing through the clothing on the rack.  The other marched directly to a small table by the window and immediately began setting up her hair and makeup station.

Two hours later, Ellie stood in front of the full length mirror next to the elevator. Her first glance took her breath away. She wore a gray fitted mini-skirt and pinstripe gray button up blouse. Over that, was a fitted, cashmere black vest and belt. The outfit was a perfect choice for her hourglass figure. The blouse and vest hugged her waist and accentuated her curves. The stiletto knee high boots and peek-a-boo cleavage accentuated Ellie's sex appeal. Her platinum hair had been twisted into an up-do that was appropriate for business.

She was not impressed with the stilettos or the cleavage.  She knew Jacob would not approve. He didn't like her drawing the attention of any man that wasn't him. She tried to button one more button of the blouse, but that idea was promptly put to an end. The two women in charge clearly believed these details to be important. Ultimately, Ellie decided that she needed to trust them. She was a fish out of water in these parts, and they seemed confident in what they were doing. They appeared to know what the event would be and understood the look they must go for. Smart. Put together. An empowered woman.  After all, she was now the owner of this tower, FitLife Gym, Willow's, and that resort chain, whatever it was. 

I don't feel like an empowered woman.
Ellie waited for the elevator.
What am I doing in this get up? Hell, I can hardly walk in these heels. 

As the steel elevator doors silently slid open Ellie tried not to fidget with her skirt. She caught her breath in her throat at the sight of Nick Bennett standing there in his grey suit. Ellie imagined the contours of his chest under the luxurious fabric. 

Girl, don’t touch him. He will go running for the hills,
warned Miss Sensibility.

Right,
Ellie agreed.
I’ll look at this eyes instead of his chest.
It was hard to determine their color; they seemed to change in different settings. With the rich mahogany wood on the elevator wall behind him, his eyes took on a green quality.

Damn. What is it about him?
Resisting the urge to reach out and touch him, she took a step into the elevator, keeping her eyes locked with his. 

Unfortunately for her, she lost balance on that damn stiletto and stumbled forward.

Fortunately for her, she fell right into the arms of Mr. Bennett. 

Unfortunately for her, the smell of his skin and feel of his arms around her waist caused her to actually lose strength in her legs. As her muscles disintegrated, she slid down his body.

The slide stopped just as her face was pressed up against his abs. His strong hands still had a hold on her, preventing her from collapsing onto the elevator floor. Ellie's body still felt numb, and now time seemed to be frozen as well. Realizing how foolish she was, she looked around, hoping to find something - other than Mr. Bennett - to grab onto and steady herself.

This thought was interrupted, however, by the realization that Mr. Bennett was growing hard between her breasts. She slowly looked down. The bulge under his pants was snuggly fit between her breasts. To her horror, she realized her blouse had somehow come undone during her decent. Not only this, but her demi-bra no longer held all the parts it should be holding. She slowly lifted her face toward his, and as her eyes met his, she found that he was burning with desire.

"Watch your step. You never know where you might land," he said, as he slid her up his body, and stepped forward to steady her on her feet. He pressed his body against hers. As she worked to regain her balance, she again noticed his swelling passion.

Ellie could feel her cheeks heat up in embarrassment. She turned her back to him, trying to retain any level of modesty she may have left. Nick continued to hold her steady at the waist as she turned.

Dammit!
A mirror, she realized in horror.

Ellie’s mind raced, trying to figure out how to get out of this situation as quickly as possible, but her brain had run away with the classical guitar piece softly filling her ears from some unseen speaker in the ceiling. It was of no use to her.

Ellie refocused on the mirror. Not only did Ellie see the reflection of the two of them standing there, Mr. Bennett at her back, but she also saw her two exposed nipples, hard and at attention, staring back at her.  Her lace bra cups were gathered at the bottom of her breasts, and working to push her nipples upward, exaggerating her already full cleavage. With a gasp, and an apparent inability to move any part of her body, she turned her gaze to Mr. Bennett in the mirror. He was clearly taking her in and enjoying every moment of it. 

"Let me help you," he said, as he took a step forward.

Now, Ellie could once again feel the heat of his body at her back, his chest pressed up against her back. 

Don't let him touch you. You are a married woman, and you can certainly adjust your own clothing,
clucked Miss Sensibility.

Inner Goddess had other ideas, however.
It's not your fault you had a wardrobe malfunction. Entirely unintentional!  You may as well let him help you readjust. 

Ellie sided with Miss Sensibility on this one. However, when she tried to raise her hands to make the necessary adjustments, they wouldn't budge. 

Without taking his eyes off her reflection in the mirror, he slid his hands up her sides, toward her exposed flesh. As Ellie watched his hands move, her ears began to buzz. She couldn't feel her feet on the ground. In an effort to try and stabilize herself, she looked away from his hands quickly approaching her chest and found his eyes in the mirror. His right hand found the bra cup now scrunched up at the bottom of her breast, and began to move it up and over her exposed skin. 

Ellie closed her eyes.
Is this happening?
she thought.  She tried to feel the weight of her feet, solidly on the floor.  She felt both his hands cupping her breasts.
He must be sliding my clothing back into place.

  Then, she felt a pinch her left nipple. All the energy from that pinch awakened her deepest primal desires and she squeezed her legs together with a gasp. Her eyes flew open, but all she could focus on were his intense eyes in the reflection.

Did he just pinch you?
Miss Sensibility asked.
Do something! Look at his hands. Did he? 

Her body didn't respond to her mental demand. Ellie lost strength in her legs and put her arms up to the elevator wall for support. This gave her the stability to focus on Nick's hands in the mirror. They were lightly cupped around her breasts. Ellie felt as if she was watching through a camera mounted at in the ceiling of the elevator. 

Oh shit! Could there be a camera at the top of the elevator? Could someone be watching?
Ellie focused on their reflections, trying to ground herself in reality. Her hard nipples could be seen pushing through her bra. Nick was now, ever so slowly, letting his fingers search out the buttons to her blouse. Ellie watched as he buttoned those that had come undone. This image of them standing there sent jolts of electricity through Ellie's body. She could feel herself growing moist. Her body was aching to be touched.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

She stared at him blankly.
Is he propositioning me?
 

He chuckled then, at the expression on her face. His hands now back at her waist, still firmly holding her steady.

"To go down." He added.

Down. What? He wants me to go down on him? In the elevator?

She continued to stare at his reflection blankly.

He slowly relinquished his firm grip on her waist, and reached around her to push the elevator door button. As the door slid shut, Ellie realized what he meant.

Down. To the Lobby. To the meeting.
Ellie took a few steps back and found her back against the elevator wall. Mr. Bennett continued to face away from her as they rode down. The tension in that confined space was palpable.

What the fuck was that?
What has gotten into me? I am a married woman!
Did he twist my nipple or was that my imagination?
 

Ellie took a deep breath.
Okay Ellie, time to clear your head and prepare for this board meeting.

Finally, it was the day before the burlesque show. Sarina checked herself in the mirror one last time, then picked up the phone. It was time for the next step of her plan.

After a few rings, she heard that amazingly sexy voice answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Jacob, it’s Sari. I'm sorry to bother you, but something has happened with the boys' father. I got papers this morning. He is filing for full custody of the boys." Sarina paused and cried quietly into the phone.

"I'm so sorry. What can I do to help?" asked Jacob. 

Sarina smiled. She had predicted he would respond this way. Sarina had figured out Jacob's weakness. He can't help it. He just loves a damsel in distress, and he seems to have a soft spot for her boys. 

"Oh, Jacob. I feel so scared and alone," she said into the phone, resuming the act. "I just don't know what to do."

"Well," replied Jacob, "I don't have anything going on tonight. I can come over. At least then, you won't be alone."

"Oh, that would be so great, Jakey. Are you sure you don't mind?" she said into the phone, but she didn't wait for a reply.  "You are such an amazing man, to drop everything and come help me."

As Sarina hung up the phone, she thought about the best strategy to use with Jacob tonight. She took stock of what she had learned so far. He clearly values family. It makes him feel good when he can come to the rescue; when he can feel needed. And, the boys may be the key to his heart.

After weighing all this information, Sarina decided that tonight was not the night for any sexual tension. If she wanted to hook Jacob, she now understood what she was doing wrong. Sex would still play a part, but it would backfire if she tried to force it too soon. No. First, she needed to be a damsel in distress. Then, she could bring on the seductive act.

When Jacob arrived, Sarina filled him in on all the details of the paperwork. It was all a lie, of course, but Sarina knew he had no way of knowing this. Pending court cases about custody issues were not a matter of public record. 

Sarina weaved her tale as she and Jacob sat side by side on her couch. She told him that her ex had remarried and she feared that he would gain custody because now he had a family to offer the boys. 

"How can I keep custody of them when I can't give them a father figure?" she lamented to Jacob. 

It was hard for Sarina to read his reaction. He was quiet and seemed contemplative.

Finally, he said, "I wish I could do something to help."

"Oh Jacob," Sarina sighed, "just being here is more than enough. I have been so lonely for so long. It’s so hard being a single mother." She leaned over to him and tentatively put her head on his chest. He didn't shy away, nor did he stop her.

"It will work out,” he said to her. 

"You know,” she replied, "somehow when I am with you, I feel more confident that it will work out."

They sat together like that, in silence and stillness for twenty minutes. 

Sarina's mind was turning with the next steps she needed to take. She would implement the next step during the burlesque show. She could sense that now was the time to really take her plans to the next level. 

Jacob's thoughts drifted from Sarina's situation to his sadness about not having a child with Ellie. He thought of that fight they had when Ellie told him about her uncle's death. 

Am I angry with her?
he wondered.
Did I snap at her because I blame her for not being pregnant? 

Jacob knew this was irrational. Their childless family was no more her fault than his own. But as he sat there, comforting Sarina he started to feel more distant from Ellie. He needed to feel needed. He needed comfort and affection. He needed family.

He decided to talk to Ellie about other options for growing a family when she gets home. Maybe they can look into adoption or artificial means. He would talk to her about her uncle too.  He couldn't take away her pain, he knew, but, he could comfort her, just as he was doing for Sarina now. With this thought, he brought himself back to the present moment... back to Sarina.

It felt good to sit here, providing comfort. Jacob felt badly for her, and wanted to help. And, if he was totally honest, he had to admit that he was beginning to feel a physical attraction to her as well. He did his best not to let his eyes linger on her ample curves, but it was hard to avoid at times.

It has been a few days since he and Ellie had been intimate, first there was that fight they had, and now her trip to Phoenix. His body was not accustomed to such a long, dry spell. 

But Jacob was a married man, and he had no intention of betraying Ellie. He knew that his physical needs were coming to the surface, and he was also sensing that in Sarina's vulnerable state, she may also be susceptible to seeking physical comfort from him.

Jacob looked down to her and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder.

"Sari, I should go," he said.

She looked up at him with the saddest expression he thought he had ever seen.

"I'll think about a solution for your boys. We will come up with something. I will help you find a way to keep them," he said.

As Sarina walked him to the door, she said, "Jacob, thank you so much. You are such an amazing man."

Jacob drove home thinking about possible solutions to Sarina's problem. Apparently, he couldn't have a baby with Ellie. He definitely couldn't bring her uncle Emery back. But maybe he could find a way to help Sarina.